CVE-2023-43017

Remote root access via permissive SSH configuration

Published Feb 7, 2024 · Updated Nov 3, 2025

Unsafe configuration import in IBM Security Verify Access 10.0.0.0 through 10.0.6.1 allows privileged users to enable remote root access. Affected container images set PERMITROOTLOGIN in /etc/sysconfig/sshd-permitrootlogin to pass PermitRootLogin=yes to OpenSSH. Administrative configuration-install privileges and an SSH server inside the instance are required; successful exploitation permits SSH login as root.

CVSS severity8.2
High
EPSS probability0.56%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unsafe configuration import in IBM Security Verify Access 10.0.0.0 through 10.0.6.1 allows privileged users to enable remote root access. Affected container images set PERMITROOTLOGIN in /etc/sysconfig/sshd-permitrootlogin to pass PermitRootLogin=yes to OpenSSH. Administrative configuration-install privileges and an SSH server inside the instance are required; successful exploitation permits SSH login as root.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-43017
Published
Feb 7, 2024
Updated
Nov 3, 2025
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Security Verify Access Appliance
Classifications
CWE-295, T1021.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 7, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 3, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=10.0.0.0 <=10.0.6.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Security Verify Access Applianceversion=10.0.0.0 <=10.0.6.1
IBM · IBM Security Verify Access Dockerversion=10.0.0.0 <=10.0.6.1

Published CVSS scores

7.2NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.2IBM CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-295Improper Certificate Validation
T1021.004Remote Services: SSH

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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